Propeller means for self-propelled vehicles.



W. A. SORG.

PROPELLBR MEANS FOR SELF PROPELLED VEHICLES.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 27, 1912.

1,062,422. Patented May 20, 1913.

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W. A. SORG. PROPELLER MEANS FOR SELF PROPELLED VEHICLES. APPLICATION FILED MAY 27, 1912.

'1 ,O62,4=22. Patented May 20, 1913.

2 BHEETS-SBBET 2.

"and with the conventional type of tractor UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. SORG, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

PROPELLER MEANS FOR SELF-PROPELLED VEHICLES.

To all whom it may concern Be it'known that I, YVILLIAM A. Sons, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Propeller Means for Self-Propelled Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in traction machinery or vehicles.

The forward movement of any automobile tractor or car is the result of the rotating force of the drive wheel, coming in frictional contact with the ground and the limits of traction are: 1..The power which is applied to the drive wheel. 2. The weight of the vehicle. 3. The resistant condition of the ground or surface with which the drive or tractor wheel is in contact.

There has been no difficulty in obtaining the power necessary to propel a vehicle but the increased weight necessary to obtain the necessary traction has retarded the progress of traction vehicles. Experience has proven that when more power is added, more weight must be added to keep the drive wheels in contact with the ground. My tractor avoids and overcomes these ditficultiesand provides a means for obtaining great tractive power without increasing the weight, the power being applied in such a way as to make a relatively small weight i've sufiicient traction to pull a heavy load. he other limit of traction is the condition of the ground or surface with which the tractor wheels come in contact, in service;

wheel which revolves around a fixed point (the axle), .a digging effect isexerted as soon as the ground resistance is less than the power, and a few revolutions of the wheel buries the machine deeply into the ground. \Vith my traction device this digging effect is entirely obviated. and the tractor can be used in soft fields during the spring as well as the other seasons of the year. Furthermore, the forces which on other tractor wheels are applied to a rotating wheel and the resultant of said forces having a tendency to carry the load forward and downward, are so applied to my wheel that the load is lifted upward an forward.

Another difficulty with theordinary tractor machine is the fact that it requires large wheel surface with long spurs to hold it Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 27, 1912.

Patented May 20, 1913. Serial No. 699,846.

in contact with the ground in ordinary soil, and this together with the great weight necessary make the vehicle impracticable for anything except field service, orvice versa make a-vehicle adapted for road service impracticable for field service. My tractor wheel automaticall adjusts itself to the nature of the soil whether in the field or on pavement, and the spurs or corks are driven in contact with the ground just sufiiciently to obtain the necessary traction and no more. To illustrate further, in case my tractor is running in a soft field it automatically picks up the entire load on the drive Wheel and drives the corks entirely into the ground, while a moment later, if the machine is driven on a hard road, only a small portion of that load will be applied to the tractor wheel in order to give the required contact with the ground. This feature of, automatic adjustment according to-load is a great power saver, and it further improves a tractor so that it will 0 erate successfully in soft ground or do or inary farm Work and hauling on roads, without changing wheels.

In the drawings which form part of my specification, Figure l is a plan, a portion of which is in section and Fig. 2 is a side elevation, part of which is broken away.

For convenience in illustrating the invention, a simple running gear having a frame A, the sides 2 and 3 and the end 4 of which are formed of channel iron. The forward end of the frame is supported by wheels 5 journaled freely on the axle 6. 'The'rear portion of the frame A is supported by the wheels 7 journaled freely on the axle 8 which is secured to the sides 2 and 3 of the frame by suitable supports 9. This running gear described is of ordinary construction and the invention iseither applicable to it or to any other form or design of running gear desired.

Cent-rally between the sides 2 and 3 of the frame and disposed freely about tlie axle 8 is an annular drive wheel B which is adapted to ride upon the surface of the road and for convenience in assembling is formed in two similar hollow annularsections 10 and lldisposed end to end. On the adjacgntjaces ofthe sections 10 and 11 are protjtycting bosses 12 which are of less diameter t'han the diameter of the parts 10 and 11. lBetween these bosses a sprocket 13 is secured by bolts 14 which also serve to hold the parts 10 and 11 together.

The sprocket 13 and the parts 10 and 11 are secured together on the same axis. The bosses 12 on the adjacent faces of the sections 10 and 11 together with the sprocket 13 which is slightly larger in diameter than the diameter of the bosses serve to space the adjacent faces of the sections 10 and 11 apart leaving an annular channel 15 in the face of the floating wheel B for the applica tion of a drive chain or other driving means which will be hereinafter described. The floating wheel B has a large circular opening 16 through its ends and on its axis and through which the axle 8 passes. Freely journaled on the axle 8 between the supports 9 are similar idle antifriction rollers 17 forming a bearing support for the drive wheel B. These rollers have long adjacent journals 18' and outwardly extending circular flanges 19 extending into the parts 10 and 11 of the drive wheel B and serving to engage the same to limit the movement of the drive wheel B laterally and hold it in alinement with the frame A and in a plane substantially parallel tothe planesof carrying wheels 7. The flanges 19 being spaced slightly from the inner walls'of the drive wheel allow a limited amount of tilting movement of said wheel suflicient to overcome inequalities in the surface of the road.

It will be noted that when the floating wheel B is in working engagement with its hearing its axis is eccentric to the axis of the bearing. v

)Vear faces 20 on the bearing rollers 17 are positioned so as to be engaged by the peripheries of the openings 16 on the opposite sides of the drive wheel. The (lll"8 wheel is adapted to be driven by a chain 21 or other suitable means, which engages the sprocket 13 and is mounted over a driving sprocket 22. The sprocket 22 is keyed to a shaft 23 which is journaled in suitable bearings 24 on the frame A. Said shaft 23 can be driven by any suitable source of power such as an internal combustion engine (not shown).

The drive chain 21 passes over idle pulleys 25 and 26 which are freely journaled on a. slack adjuster support 27. Said support is pivotally mounted at 28 midway between its ends on a bracket 29 secured to the frame A. When it is desired to drive the vehicle forward the driving chain 21 operates in the direction of the arrows and the floating drive wheel B will assume the position shown in Fig. 2. It will be noted that the pull of the chain 21 is in a plane intersecting the axis of the drive wheel B thereby insuring an even drive at all times. Thus the wheel B will act in the capacity of what is termed a second class lever engaging the bearing rollers 17 at a point say tion of the bearing as regards the drive wheel tends to lift the load and force the short spurs 33 on the periphery of the drive wheel into firm engagement with the surface of the ground.

The idle pulley 26 being of solid metal makes it heavier than the pulley 25 which is h'ollow or cast of light material, thus the pulleys owing to the difference in weight explained and the pull of the chain, will assume the position shown in Fig. 2. When the drive is reversed and the chain 21 is driven in the opposite direction the drive wheel B will assume the position illustrated in dotted outline in Fig. 2 and will bear upon idlers 17 to drive the vehicle in backward direction. The idle pulleys 25 and 26 will then change in position, the pulley 25 and the chain 21 will be in the position illustrated in dotted outline (see Fig. 2). Thus the chain will lengthen out to compensate for the changing of position of the driving wheel B (illustrated in dotted out line, Fig. 2). The parts will again come into the positions illustrated in full line in Fig. 2 when the wheel B is driven in forward direction. 1

It will be readily seen that this invention is exceedingly simple, and that a great initial power is available at all times for the purpose of overcoming large obstructions. It is further to be noted that the device can be applied to any ordinary running gear, said gear employing ordinary supporting wheels which will run in the rats of ordinary roads which is an advantage. The application of driving force and distribution of the weight of the parts places the center of gravity low down near the longitudinal center line of the vehicle making the vehicle difficult to tip over. The construction also obviates the use of differential gearing which is a distinct advantage.

In accordance with the patent statutes I have described the principles of operation of my invention together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof but I desire to have it understood that the construction shown is only illustrative and that the invention can be carried out by other means and applied to uses other than those above set forth within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new'and desire to protect by Letters Patent is 1. In a self propelled vehicle having a supporting frame and carrying elements therefor, a propelling wheel having a concentric impelling surface and a bearing 'by saidframe' against-which sa d lmpelling carried by .said frame against which said a p I g frame and carrylng 'wheels therefor; proinipelling. surface is adapted freely,, the; point of contact bet\veen -sa1d bearlng. and; impelling surface being lchan edr during e pe a i n 9f. th Y? {in A 2'.--In 1 a self propelled 5 vehicle having a Supporting I fram a ma ry ng el me therefor, at propelling wheellitL ViHg tfQ Hfi centric impelling surface, a bearing carried the Contact, l between said bearing and impelling surface being changed-from one ,point to surface is adapted, to,,im pinge free another when the,prepellingivheeljs versed and; means ;for driving; said propelli ng wheel! 4 a -1 ea lf. P p l ed veh cle hayin e suppontin'gsgframe; and carryi-ng elements therefor, a propellin :1 wheel; having facon-i centric impelling sur f a'cea bearing carried y Said: ra e. g ins h id trave surfa e'51sv a apted t imp nge fr ly, t pointio z on ee be w en a- -bsar n impellifig; surface being changed when the p p g whe l is re s d a adju ab e means;; forjd riving said jwheeladapted t0 compensate for .the change of; said 'cont act T 4. sIn-agself propelled veh icle rhaying a supporting frame and carrying Wheels therefor, an annular propelling Wheel adapted to'engagethe surface of the ground,

means carried by said frame for revolvin said pro l by 531d r beingi freely disposed as, regard'ssaid ing" and 'adaptedato impingeagainst. said bearing when revolving forwardly or ward'lyto propel said vehicle. Q In ;a self propell d vehicle having a supporting frame and; carrying 'wheels therefor, a propelling heel having A a 'c'i'r ular impelli ng surface concentric vwith it s' pep x me' s e- Q- r v lv s i P pel ling wheeltand at bearnig, carried by said frame against which. the propelling surface "of said ,propellingWheel adapted to re- ";volve and drive said,vel,1 icle,. saidwheel being-freely disposed as regards ,slaid bearing. (n In' a Self propelled yehiclehavhig .a supporting -=fram ezand carrying, Wheels .-,the.refor, v a, A propelling wheel freely disposed 5. rega dsl said frame xan d ha'ving an unpellling; surface concentric ivith fth e periphery of said propelling wheel means for revolvi ng said propelling Wheel and ran anti- .friction bearing carried by said frain e and a'gainstj 1;w hich said impelling,-, surface is adapted 'to revolve. to propel said vehicle,-

saigil impelling surface being of larger diameter than thevdiameter offsaid hearing,

= whereby said propellingvt heel'is freeto ride uponand engage the surface' 'of the ground independent of I the moveinent of said vehicle. I

bearingQ elling wheel and a hearing carrier j Frame within said wheel said 'vvheel I bal ' i g an' impellingsurface of less diameter than the diameter ofsaid Wheel and concentric with the periphery of said wheel, means for limiting the lateral movement of said propelling "wheel in said frame and an anti- 7. In a self propelled vehicle having a roll upon'andfengagey'the surface'pf the ground and having an inner conce'ntric'surface, another an janti'friction fb'earin carried by said frame and against which t ie-inner surface of saldannul'ar Wheel is'adaplted to impinge and theother' means carried y said frame for revolving-said drive wheel with its inner concentric surface 'agaiiist'sai'd s. 'In a Self iii-spelled vehicle, asupport polling" surface concentric with the periphsaidpro-pelling wheel, a gear carried s'aid, p ropelling wheel, 'a' power element carried said frame and having ad'rive car a cha n transmission over said earsaslack adjuster associated with said chain, an I an'til'riction {bearing carried" by 3 said frame and against which the impelli'ng "surface of 'sai'd'drive 'wheel is adapted-to engage-to propel saidvehicle; the'diarneter of c, said bearing being'less than the diameter of said propelling wheel" Whreby said mpellinlg' yvheel isf'frfeely disposed as regards said beilringa-nd vehicle.

9.. In a self propelled vehicle having a supporting frame and carrying -'-whe'eIs therefor, an an'nl'llar pro pelling vvheel havfriction bearing carried by said frame against which said iinpelling surface is adapted to re'v olte to drive said vehicle, said the operation of the latter. p v

l0. Ina self propelled vehicle having a framejand carrying wheels therefor,fpropelling means comprising three cooperating elements, one an annular driving iu'he'el' adapted to roll upon 'and engage the surface v ofth'e' ground and havinga pair of inner concentric surfaces disposed laterally apart,

another an jantifrictionroller bearing carvehiclermeans carried by said frame for 're-" 'volv'ing said wheel and a slack adjuster associated 'With said" driying means adapted to equalize the length ofsaidjdriving'mezfns according to the distance between saidydriving means and said propelling a tvheel dur ng =i ng frame and carrying Wheels 'for'said fraiii, a floating propelling Whee'l'freely sdis'posed-in said frame and adapted to "ride upon andengage thesurfa'ce of thground I independent of "said jit'rarn'e a nd carrying wheelsyfsaid propell'ing' yvheel having an immoving forward or ,ery'of which said concentric surfaces are diameter of said adapted to impinge the the diameter of bearing being less than either of saidconcentric surfaces, and the other meanscarried byfsaid frame for revolvingjsaid driving wheel with its inner concentric surfaces against the periphery of said ,bfear'ing, said revolving means being ap lied to said wheel in a planesubstantia ly midway between the planes of said concentric surfaces, whereby driving force is evenly applied to said wheel and said wheel is freely disposed to a'limited extent as regards-said frame.

11. In a self propelled vehicle having a frame and carrying wheels therefor, propelling, means comprising three cooperating elements, one an, annular driving wheel adapted' to roll freely upon and engage the surface ofthe concentric surface, another an antifrict-ion bearing journaled upon said frame within Said concentric surface and of less diameter than the .;diameter of said concentric surface and the;,other an extensible driving means forsaid wheel adapted to permit said wheel backward with its concentric surface against the surface of said bearing to reversethe motionof said vehicle.

12. In] a self propelled. vehicle, having a f ame and carrying 'wheels therefor, propelling means,- comprising, anv annular drivingwheel adapted t and engagethe surface; f the ground and having inner concentric, surfaces spaced laterally apart,jan antifrict-ion rollerbearing ournaleduponj said frame and-liav'ingapair of evenly d sposed contacts against saidconcentric surfaces, the f,dia m'eter. of i said bearmg; be ng less than the diameterofsaid concentric surfacesjwhereby said wheel is adaptedwhile; propelling said vehicle forwardly or, backwardlyjtoroll with said con centric surfaces impinging. against said bearing, aflbeltzengagi-ng saidwheel to revolve the lattei, a driving-element engaging said belt to. propelthe latter and aslackiadjuster over which said belt-.passes, ada.pted while said belt remains operatively engaged with said wheel to permitreversalof said wheel I 1,3. Iufe self propelled vel1iC e,.a'siippO t-- ing frame; and carrying, wheels for said frame, a floating propelling wheel disposed freely in said framea'ndi adapted to ride upon-and engage the surface, of the ground independent [of said; frame. wheels, said propellingwheel havingan impelling surface -concentric .w-ithfthe periphery, ofsaid. propelling: wheel, a gear carriedby said propellingswheel, a. power elementcarried by said :frame. andlhaving a drive gear, a chain transmission over said gears, a slack adjuster associated with said chain, guides carried by said frame and as ground and. having an inner roll freely upon.

a pair of ,inner faces ..longitudinally being adapted and: carrying,

is freely disposed as regards said bearing and vehicle.

14. In a self frame and carr mg wheels therefor, a propellin element disposed freely in said rame aving inner concentric surfaces, bearing surfaces carried by said frame of less propelled vehicle having a diameter than the diameter of said concentric surfaces and arranged on an axis sub stantially parallel with the axis of said propelling wheel when the latter is innormal pair ofbearings against which said concentric surfaces of said wheel impinge position, said bearing surfaces forming a.

to propel said vehicle, and a drivmg element acting in a plane acrossrthe axis Of'said propelling wheel substantially mid- 9 0 way between and parallel with the planes of said concentric surfaces, whereby anievenare adapted to I longitudinal force is exerted uponandby I i said propelling wheel as regards said 1 i-fi -1.95

havinga frame and carrying wheels therefor, anantihicle.--,

l5. Ina selfpropelled .vehicle friction-roller bearing carried by said frame i on an axistiiansverse to said frame. and hav ng. flanges on its ends,,a driving Wheel on an axis substantially parallel;

arranged to the axis of said bearing and formed with two peripheral treads, a gear betweensaid treadsof less diameter concentric with said treads, :a chain belt engaging, said gear, means on said frame torevolve said-wheel and a slac adjuster associated with said beltto permit longi tudinal movement .of saidwheel, said bearof said 11111811 concentric. faces and having its flanges adaptedto engage the sides'of said wheel to limit movement. of said wheel on ltS: axis, and said wheel face of the groundand saidinnerconcentric for drivin said beltthan said wheel, and

116. ,ing being of less diameter than the diameter.

115. to tread freely upon .thesur-F faces to impinge against said-bearing when saidwheel is revolving-to propel said vehicle 1.20 16. In a vehicle ,of the class set forth, a

forwardly or backwa tdlv.

body frame having carryingnwheels, a revoluble drive wheel adapted to roll on theground free of the weight ofsaid vehicle and having a propelling engagement against said frame and means for revolving said forming propelling engagement with the ground of a lever whose engagement with said frame by said drive wheel produces an .wheel, the periphery of said drive wheel i increasing tendency to lift the load of said 1 name to this specificatiml in the presence frame and thereby Increase the force of sald of two subscnblng wltnesses.

geripherul engagement between said drive VH1 KM QORG wheel and ground automatically in propor- J I tion to the amount of wm-k performed by Vitnesses: said drive wheel. H. L. FISCHER,

In testimony whereof, I have signed my G. M. DEEBACH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Cummissiwer of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

